The Malta Amateur Athletic Association presented five women at a seminar in Evian, France, organised as part of a grant awarded by the European Union to a consortium of eight European Athletics Federations that included Malta, and the parent association European Athletics, entitled ‘Closing the Leadership Gender Gap in European Athletics’.

Thirty eight participants from these countries, comprising also one representative each from Iceland, Turkey and Norway, covered an intensive programme of skills training to assist them to come into leadership positions in athletics.

Topics covered ‘Gender Gap Awareness in Athletics’, ‘Intrapreneurship’ and ‘Leadership Styles and Decision Making’, besides the involvement of the participants in a number of workshops, case studies to delve into current gender issues in Turkey, Norway and Sweden and group discussion to study improvements in women’s roles in leadership positions.

The contingent had the opportunity to create a common network with their peers, discuss different perspectives on the subject prevalent in other European countries and explore the possibilities of their success if applied to Malta.

Along with the many notable speakers, expert in their relative fields, Professor John Antonakis from the University of Lausanne, Dr Philippe Jacquart, the grant Project Leader and Bill Glad, Head of Development at the European Association, were instrumental to the success of the program.

The Maltese contingent, hailing from four different athletic clubs in Malta, praised highly the professional organisation and meticulous approach to the subject matter, concluding that the knowledge and experience attained would prove beneficial to their future, especially within the sphere of Maltese athletics.

During their stay, Angie Mangion, Caroline Ciappara, Richalda Galea, Gwen Fava and Mary Rose Herd also visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, as well as the Headquarters of European Athletics in the same city.

Anthony Fava

MAAA Communications

Coordinator